House Committee Approves Death Penalty Repeal Bill

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP)- Gov. O'Malley's bill to repeal the death penalty is making headway, gaining approval from a Maryland House Committee.

The House Judiciary Committee approved the measure in a 14-8 vote on Friday.

The bill now moves to the full House floor, where it also expected to pass.

State Senators have already approved the measure.

Lawmakers backing the bill rejected several amendments that would have maintained the death penalty for acts of terrorism, contracted killers, criminals who commit murder on school grounds, criminals who murder police officers in the line of duty, kidnappers that kill and serial killers.

The state has five men on death row.

If passed, Maryland would become the 18th state to ban the death penalty.